Summary
In this short editorial, Bill Venners explains the context and
motivation behind Artima's new online magazine, Leading-Edge Java, and
describes the focus and flavor of the articles it will publish.

In early 1995, Sun Microsystems quietly released an alpha version of a new programming language
with a cool name: Java. Not long after its low-key initial release, Netscape announced it would
include Java in its browser, and a rush of Java publicity, excitement, and hype ensued. In the
many years since, Java has matured. It is now an expansive and capable programming technology,
widely adopted in many areas—from tiny devices to server clusters and beyond. In fact, the
Java landscape is now so immense it requires significant time and effort to explore. We'd like
to provide a map.

Today we're launching Leading-Edge Java, a new online magazine on Artima Developer devoted
to publishing high-quality, practical articles for Java developers. The goal of Leading-Edge
Java is to help professional Java developers stay informed about, and make effective use of,
the latest developments in Java technology.

We plan to publish the following kinds of articles:

news of recent developments in Java technology

tutorials of new language features, APIs, and tools

interviews with shakers and movers in the Java community

feature articles about new, innovative uses of Java technology

We hope to build Leading-Edge Java into an online community where Java developers can
interact and share information via in-depth articles and intelligent, respectful discussion in the
forums. If you are doing leading-edge work with Java, please
consider writing for Leading-Edge Java.

Talk back!

If you have questions or suggestions about this new magazine, please post them in the discussion
forum topic, Mapping the Java Landscape.

About the author

Bill Venners is president of Artima Software, Inc. and editor-in-chief of Artima Developer. He is author of the book,
Inside the Java Virtual Machine, a programmer-oriented survey of the Java platform's architecture and internals.
His popular columns in JavaWorld magazine covered Java internals, object-oriented design, and Jini. Bill has been active in
the Jini Community since its inception. He led the Jini Community's ServiceUI project, whose ServiceUI API became the de facto
standard way to associate user interfaces to Jini services. Bill also serves as an elected member of the Jini Community's initial
Technical Oversight Committee (TOC), and in this role helped to define the governance process for the community. He now
edits the brand new magazine, Leading-Edge Java.